Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/1139

 TAUROSCYTHAE. effect, as well as to the interest, of the ruin. From the fragments of architectural decorations still extant we learn that it was of the Corinthian order, and richly ornamented. In size it ranks next to the theatre of Syracuse, among those of Sicily. Some portions of a temple are also visible, converted into the church of S. I'ancrazio, but the edifice is of small size and of little interest. The ruins at Taoiinina are described in detail by the Duke of Serra di Falco (^Antichita della Sicilia, vol. v. part iv.). as well as by most travellers in Sicily. (Swin- burne's Travels, vol. ii. p. 380 ; Smyth's Sicili/, p. 129, &c.) [E. H. B.] roiX OF TAUROMENlUar. TAUROSCYTHAE QTaupoaKieai, Ptol. iii. 5. § 25), called by Pliny Tauri Scythae (iv. 12. s. 26), a people of European Sarmatia, composed of a mix- ture of Taurians and Scythians. They were seated to the W. of the Jazyges, and the district which tiicy inhabited appears to have been called Tauro- b( ythia. (Cf. Strab. ap. Hudson, p. 87 ; Capit. iV. Ant. 9 ; Procop. de Aed. iii. fin.) [T. H. D.] TAURU'NUM {Tavpovvov), a strong fortress in Lower Pannonia, at the point where the Savus joins the Danubius, on the road from Sirmium to Sinui- dunum. It was the station of a small fleet of the Danubius. (Plin. iii. 28; Ptol. ii. 16. § 4; It. Ant. pp. 131, 241; Tab. Pent; Geogr. l{av. iv. 19, wiiere it is called Taurynum.) Its site is now occupied by the fortress of Semlin, opposite to BeUjrade. [L. S.] TAURUS MONS (<5 TaDpos), one of the great mountain ranges of Asia, the name of which is believed to be derived from the Aramaic Tur or Tura, i. e., a high mountain or Alp, and accordingly is in reality a common noun applied to all the high mountains of Asia. The name has even been trans- ferred to Europe, for the Taurian Chersonesus in Sarmatia and the Taurisci in the Norican Alps appear to owe their name to the same origin. We cannot wonder therefore when we find that Erato- sthenes (ap. Strab. xv. 689) and Strabo (ii. pp. 68, 129, X. p. 490) apply the name to the whole range of mountains extending from the Mediterranean to the eastern ocean, although their connection is often broken. This extent of mountains is, according to Strabo's calculation (xi. p. 490), 45,000 stadia in length, and 3000 in breadth. But in the narrower and common acceptation Mount Taurus is the range of mountains in Asia Minor which begins at Cape Sacrum or Chelidonium on the coast of Lycia, which for this reason is called by Mela (i. 15) and Pliny (v. 28) Promontorium Tauri. It was, how- ever, well known to the ancients that this promontory was not the real commencement, but that in fact the range extended to the south-western extremity of Asia Minor. (Strab. ii. p. 129, xi. p. 520, xiv. pp. 651, 666.) This range rises in the W. as a lofty and precipitous mountain, and runs without any inter- ruptions, first in a northern direction between Lycia and Pamphylia, then in an eastern direction through Pisidia and Isauria as far as the frontiers of Cilicia and Lycaonia. There it separates into two main TEAXUM. 1115 branches. The one proceeds north-eastward under the name of Antitaurus ('AfTiTaupos). and surpasses the other in height. It runs through Cappadocia, where it forms Jlount Argaeus ('Apya?oj), and Armenia, where it is called Mons Capotes, and through the Monies Moschici it is connected with the Caucasus, while a more southerly branch, under the names of Abus and Macis or Massis, runs through Armenia towards the Caspian sea. The second branch, which separates itself on the frontiers of Cilicia and Lycaonia, retains the name of Taurus, and proceeds from Cilicia, where it forms the Portae Ciliciae, and sends forth Mons Amanus in a southern direction, while the main branch proceeds through Cappadocia. After being broken through by the Euphrates, it again sends forth a southern branch under the name of Mons l^Iasius. The name Taurus ceases in the neighbourhood of Lake Arsissa, the mountains further east having other names, such as Niphates, Zagrus, &c. Most parts of Mount Taurus, which still bears its ancient name, were well wooded, and furnished abundance of timber to the maritime cities on the south coast of Asia Minor. [L. S.] TAURUS PALUS, an etanc/ on the coast of Narbonensis, west of the delta of the Rhone. It is named in the verses of Avienus, quoted in the article Fecyi Jugum; and to the verses there cited may be added the following verse: — " Taurum paludem namque gentici (gentili) vo- cant." But I. Vossius in his edition of Mela (ii. 5, note) writes the verses of Avienus thus : — " In usque Taphrum pertinet, Taphron paludem namque gentili vocant ; " an alteration or corruption which D'Anville justly condemns, for the etang is still named Taur, or vulgarly Taw. [G. L.] TAXGAE'TIUM (Ta^yaiTtof), a place assigned by Ptolemy (ii. 12. § 5) to Rhaetia, but which more properly belonged to Vindelicia, was situated on the northern shore of the Lacus Brigantinus, and pro- bably on the site of the modern Lindau. [L. S.J TA'XILA (Td|iAa, Arrian,^?ia6. v. 8; Ta|/aAo, Ptol. vii. 1. § 45), a place of great importance in the LTpper Panjab, between the Indus and Hydasjies, wiiich was visited by Alexander tlie Great. It is said to have been ruled at that time by a chief named Tasiles, who behaved in a friendly manner to the Grecian king. The country around was said to be very fertile, and more abundant than even Egypt (Strab. XV. pp. 698—714). There can be little doubt that it is represented by the vast ruins of Manihjala, which has in modem times been the scene of some very remarkable researches (Elphin- stone, Cabul, p. 79; Burnes, Travels, i. p. 65, ii. p. 470.) The famous Topes of Manihjalu, which were examined by General Ventura and others (Asiatic lies. xvii. p. 563), lie to the eastward of Rawil-pindi. Wilson considers Taxila to be the same as the Takhsasila of the Hindus (^Arunia, p. 196). [V.] TAY'GETUS. [Laconia, pp. 108, 109.] TAZUS (Tafoj, Ptol. iii. 6. § 6). 1. A town in the SE. part of the Chersonesus Taurica. 2. A town of Asiatic Sarmatia, on the N. coast of the Pontus Euxinus. (Ptol. v. 9. § 9.) [T. H. D.] TEA'NUJl (Jiavov: Eth. Teanensis: Civitatc), sometimes also called Tkanum Arui.LM (Cic. pro Clitetit.9; T(afui'''Anouoi', Strab.: y:,7A. Tcanenses Apuli), to distinguish it from the Canipanian city of the